Beer Drinker Appreciation Society - Open For Business (Page 136)

Gretchen - you have a right to brag! You've worked your butt off, been chased by vicious dogs, and deserve to shout it from the rooftops! Good luck this week with your training/race. You are gonna rock it!

Yesterdays ride was epic! I got off to a late start due to the fact that I had to wait a while for my garmin and iphone to charge. With my wife away from home - riding with a cell phone is a must. The late start - combined with a leaking rear tire that I eventually had to change, getting lost and adding 15 miles to my ride, and 4,500 feet of climbing Mt. Wachusett made for a late night. I was stoked when I made it up the mountain for the first time this year (last week I had to turn around because I was worried about riding in the dark). It was so amazing beautiful up there. Not a cloud in the sky and I could almost see Boston more than 40 miles away....

Unfortunately - all the fun came to a screeching halt when the sun went down and it got dark with more than 15 miles to ride. I tried to ride on on less busy streets but things got really dicy because I didn't have the battery left in my phone to light my way for most of the way. I hadn't planned on riding in the dark but I tried to make the best of it. Lucky my BDAS jersey protected me and I made it home with a nearly full moon rising. Even though I was incredibly stupid to ride in the dark - I felt so incredibly stoked to have finished this ride. I wolfed down a plate of pasta at 10:30 and went to bed with a big smile on my face!

Have a great week everyone!

PS - Here's a pic from the top. I wish BT would fix their problem with iPhone pics!

Edited by Qua17 2015-08-03 9:59 AM






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Attempting to catch up:

Gretchen, that ride sounds horrid. I had a similar running experience last week. Why do little dog owners think it's ok to let their little dogs off leash in a park with a huge sign that says "Dogs Must Be On Leash", and then let those little off leash dogs run snarling and barking up the butt of a large, leashed dog whose owner clearly is running with her dog and attempting to avoid a dog fight? And then why do they tell you that you need anger management therapy when you tell them to get their effing dog on a leash?

Was it Kurt that was racing last weekend? Can't wait to hear.

Welcome back, Justin.

Awesome upside down pic, David! :-) Looks lovely up there.

Proudest accomplishment of July--Probably finishing the tri a couple of weeks ago and doing well, mostly learning to put my experience to good use during the race.

Sandi

Hi David,

On the weekly goals...I'm going to take you up on that. I have been SUPER bad about not planning my workouts. I still get most of them in, but because I don't make a commitment about them in terms of scheduling, I'm just not as efficient as I should be. For example, last week I made every bad workout decision there is....even biking in 98 degree heat twice. Just stupid. And I've found myself actively avoiding the OWS...heck, swimming in general....I haven't been in the water in two weeks since my last tri, and I've got a sprint on Saturday. Which honestly is just ridiculous given the heat and that I work next to the lake, I should be swimming every chance I get.

So my goals for the week:

3 OWS, two a minimum of 30 consecutive minutes.
1 60 minute ladder ride.
2 runs (one down as of this morning).
Enjoy the heck out of my race on Saturday.

I also want to brag that despite my challenges with wanting to swim (I think that's it....I just don't WANT to do it and can't seem to get out of that mindset), Saturday I went on a 32 mile ride with friends....same one I had done a few months ago and it was MUCH easier this time around despite an increase in temps by 40+ degrees. AND....I've broken past my 4 mile run barrier...4 miles has pretty much been all I do, which is fine, I only have so much time in my life and had no desire to go further till now...I'm up to 4.5. Playing around with doing a 10K this fall. A new challenge. :-)

Sandi

Dave It's easier to ride when you're not standing on your head. Interestingly enough, the BT app on the iPhone corrects the image to be right-side up. You need to pack some extra batteries for those rides that could stray into the night. i hear too many stories of drivers not paying attention, no need to make it harder for them to see you. I'm glad the BDAS jersey helped.

Justin Welcome back...'grats on the weight loss.

Kurt Good job on the race. Love the bike BTW. It's a shame about the barricade thing. When's you next one?

Gretchen I didn't know you were a dog whisperer. When I first started running I would occasionally have a nasty looking farmer's dog zero in on me in the middle of the street. There I was telling cars to slow down as the thing was eyeing me up. He never got around to wagging the tail at all and I would just give up on my pace and slowly back away. Luckily I haven't seen him in years. Then again I've graduated to longer courses so I don't go that way as much.

Workout Did a smaller brick today (8 mile bike/3 mile run) at the YMCA. It was supposed to rain, but they lied. I'm slowing things down now since this is taper week.

Race Week So far the nerves are in check. I'll report back in later in the week as it gets more inevitable. The part that bothers me to the most so far is that I have to wake up at 3:30-4:00 am. I've been a vocal proponent of working out at night, so I'd like to point to this disgusting wake up time as just how much I WANT to do this triathlon. For a night owl, this is commitment.

What a great month guys!


Dave O Waking will be not problem, your adrenaline will be pumping, you are going to have an awesome race, and then sleeping in the next day will be glorious!

DQ Great job on the bike, both the speed improvement and the mountain climb. Climbing mountains, either figuratively or literally, is awesome!

John John congrats on smashing your first tri this month.

Kurt Sick Ride! Sticking with it is more than half the battle as they say, keep on fighting the good fight.

Gretchen You are a machine, very impressive month!

Sandi Great job on the run, 10K is a great distance IMHO, pick a low key event and make it happen!

Edited by justinfss 2015-08-04 12:34 AM

Well,

July was hectic and seems to have come and gone in a blink for me. What am I proudest of this month, sticking with a training plan and nutrition plan, I have come off it for the past week because of midnight shifts, but I plan on continuing it for Aug and working towards some very important health goals. My totals are unknown to me becuase I havent kept of top of logging for a while, not a lot as I have been concentrating on some resistance training.

Something to share with the group, a few weeks ago I rear-ended another car in a merge lane, I had come to a stop and then was looking for a hole in traffic, I either forgot about the car in front, or I thought enough holes had passed and they would be gone, in any chance I rear ended him, not super hard, but my airbag went off. My 3 yr old was in the car, and she was scared but fine, the other driver was fine as well. So that is that, a stupid mistake. Car was not wrote off, but it will be about a month before they can fix it, auto body shops are all super busy. I reported the accident to the police as required by my insurance company, and they took the report and issued me a ticket for "operating a vehicle so as to strike the rear of another vehicle" a by-law offence with a 115.00 dollar fine and no dermerit points on my license.

My question for you guys is how I can go about getting this ticket ripped up, The issuing officer (just the duty officer at the desk when I reported the accident) advised me three times that I could take the ticket to court and plead not guilty, I took that as a hint and I advised the clerks office in the city of my intention to do just that, they said it would be months before I get a court date. My plan is to go before the judge and the crown prosecutor and let them know that I am not denying what I did and it was completely my fault, however I feel that the fine is a punitive damage isssued after I voluntarily came into the police station to report the accident. In my mind, issuing this ticket is only going to accomplish my questioning of doing the 'right thing' if I am ever in this situation again.

Any thoughts, or tips? I am not against the justice system, this ticket just seems to be adding insult to injury.

Thanks in advance guys

Edited by justinfss 2015-08-04 12:48 AM

Sandi- I feel your pain. I just cant find the fun in swimming. I am trying. It did take me a year to enjoy biking but I do now. May have had something to do with getting a bike that fits. I also hate it when people think their little dogs aggressive behavior is cute.

Justin- Not sure about canada but here (my town) if you get a ticket due to an accident (not drunk and no one seriously injured) once your insurance company pays for the damage to the other vehicle, its dismissed.

skipped my swim yesterday but got in my run and my brick today.

Hey John and Jenn - any any one else who would like to brave the arctic tundra of a New England winter to do a race in February:

I was thinking of signing up for the Hyannis half marathon on February 28th as part of prepping to bandit Boston in April. I was thinking it might be fun to do a marathon relay. Any one want to do it with me?

Here's the website:

http://www.hyannismarathon.com/Awards.html#Awards

Best,
DQ

David, that sounds like a blast. :-) I was just looking at a similar one locally this fall (hosted at the Redhook brewery!) and thinking of trying to recruit people. I'd love to do it and would happily brave a New England winter (recall I love frigid running), but I've got a couple of eye surgeries ahead of me next year so planning beyond the fall is tough.

Sandi

Sandy - I've done a 5K at the Red Hook Brewery in NH. There is nothing better than tasty beers ON TAP at the finish line - am I right???

You guys are small beasts. I fell off the wagon after my race a week and a half ago and need to get back on. Had to go to San Fran for work then to my in laws for a reunion. Lots of flying. I did get in a run yesterday.

I think I need another race on the calendar. Pretty sure a half marathon in Mass in Feb sounds pretty miserable though ;-)

YES. I believe that is the week after February vacation week, yes? On the 20th I'm doing a 10k. Should be fun to do a 10k and a half mary a week apart, it'll get me in a whole different winter training groove.

DQ - I figured you were in Australia and being funny. LOL!!! Well done on the ride.

Sandi - Repeat after me... "Swimming is awesome!" now go swim. :D

Scott - see above.

Dave - Good luck at your race. Getting up really early is tough. A trick I learned a few years back, is to take a sleep aid (Tylenol PM, or Zquil) for a great nights sleep TWO DAYS BEFORE. So, if your race is Sunday morning, get a really good nights sleep on Thursday night. I'm talking 10hrs! It helps, a lot.



Thank you all for the kind words on my race. The report is up (http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=534700) and after looking at all my numbers, I'm happy. I have to remind myself that I just got back on the tri horse, and couldn't even run a mile without walking 8 months ago. My swim was right on time for me, and my wife was pretty impressed when she was there, and I came out of the water in about 8th position (of the 39 and under wave).


DQ, speaking of winter events... I may try to get up to Hayward, WI for the "Fat Bike Birkie" in March. I'll need to rent a bike, but it looks like a blast! My Uncle has a cabin up there, and has offered to host whomever I bring. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? :D

A fat bike Birkie sounds awesome!!! I have cheered on friends for the skiing option. We've been toying with getting fat bikes.

You need to actually ask that?

:-)

Sandi

I need to find better 5ks! Since the very first 5k I did in college on Thanksgiving Day 1997 (ahem) run by the now defunct (RIP) Pilgrim Brewery, I have only had finish line beers at one other 5k in all my years of 5ks, the Beerd run in my profile pic. Is a couple dirty thirties on ice really that much more expensive than bottles of water? C'mon race organizers lol.

Hmmm. Do I hear the possibility of a BDAS organized 5K in our future?

Sandi

Lots to catch up on!
Sandi, I love dogs, I have had 4 dogs, but I hate owners who let their dogs go off leash like that. I get that here a fair amount.

Justin, I hope you figure out the whole ticket thing, I don't know what to tell you there.

Gretchen, rock your race!
And Sandi, I think you mentioned you have a race too - woohoo! Go ladies!
I'll have to look back to see who I'm missing!

I'm on vacation - just came back from camping and am at camp at the lake now. Got in a 15 mile ride followed by 6.2 mile run today. I also signed up for an Oly this Sunday! Eek! It's a fast and small field and I won't be great on the run (only just ran my first 6.2 since my Oly last August due to knee) but it will be a good test for my race later in the summer. I would love to finish somewhere in the middle of the pack (the top three finishers have been in my age group and they are smoking fast). There are only about 40 people total who have been coming this year for the Olys, the focus has been on the sprints at this venue. It's a beautiful place; they did a huge Oly national qualifier here a couple of years ago. Clean, clear water, shaded run, rolling hills.

Dave Q, I'll have to check out that February run, that could be fun! I'm not sure yet how it shakes out with the kids' February vacation. I'll check it out!

Thought about running this morning but we had 2 bats flying around the house last night so I feel I got enough exercise dealing with that... ?? gotta love camp!

My second tri last year (Trail of Tears in Cape Girardeau, MO) had a keg at the finish line. Unfortunately, it was Coors Light (a sponsor).

Run this morning in the rain! 262/400. I love running in the rain, and this was a perfect rain to run in, not to hard, no lightening/thunder/wind/etc. Later today I'm hitting the pool to practice my new swim techniques and maybe try a 450 continuous to get an idea of goal times for Saturday's race. I've been seeing results with the swim lessons, but putting everything together and using new muscles and such has really cut my endurance, so I'm a little concerned. Found my start time this morning. I'm disappointed that this year I start 15 seconds before my sister, which means no joy of swimming over her (on purpose) during the swim--aren't family rivalries great?!?!

This sounds GLORIOUS!

As a runner, I've loved tri training because of the lack of running injuries, but I've missed having so many runs. I'm lucky these days if I get two in a week...

Last night after one heck of an hour of boot camp (Tabata - yay....) during which I actually had to skip an exercise and go for a walk to alleviate light headedness and high HR , I actually went for a short run after boot camp. Had a friend from class to go with, we did a quick 1.3 miles which might not sound like much, but it was almost like a cool down after boot camp. Nice relaxed 9:00 pace, everything had cooled off from rainstorms, it was so so nice I wanted to keep going! It was also dark out and I needed to get home to eat dinner... I've tried running before boot camp before and it made boot camp that much harder. But running after as a cool down was great.

Not sure if this where/how to join this group, but please correct me if I'm wrong! I literally just started. Here's my bio:

NAME: Michael or Robbie (long story...you'll see below)

STORY: I just joined this site today to find information that I can use to better myself on my journey. I attended the first training session of the local triathlon club here in Orlando, Florida this morning and it felt great! I'm just started training after receiving a kidney transplant last year due to a hereditary illness. I found out about the Transplant Games of America and the World Transplant Games through one of the nurses at the hospital. They are competitions that draw thousands of athletes for a wide variety of sports. Of those I'm considering participating in are swimming, cycling and running. I just recently got accepted to participate in the 2016 Transplant Games of America in Cleveland, OH as a member of Team Florida. I'm thrilled!

I have a long way to go before June 2016 arrives. I just started turning up the intensity on my workouts due to my doctor finally giving me the all clear. I'm 27 years old and was born with a hereditary kidney disease, Alport Syndrome. Alport Syndrome is a rare disease that my parents were aware of soon after I was born. After I graduated college with a BA in Political Science in 2011 is when my kidneys took a sharp decline. I was on dialysis for almost two years before finally getting the call in April 2014 for transplant. The transplant has been a success and I'm just living every day so grateful for the blessing I've been given.

You're probably wondering why this has anything to do with why I'm doing this. Well, I want to honor my organ donor who is no longer on this earth for her sacrifice. I started a YouTube channel about my travels and adventures honoring my organ donor (www.youtube.com/robbiesroad). I'm not doing it for fame or anything like that, but rather to bring attention to kidney disease and let those who suffer from it (especially younger folk) that it is not a death sentence and that things will be okay. I decided to go back to school for Nursing so that one day I can help those in my situation a little further. I start my second semester later this month and I'm thrilled to be one step closer to graduation.

I just purchased my first pair of running shoes, well, at least quality running shoes (pair of Hoka Cliftons as I'm a heftier fellow at around 200 pounds and need the support). Now, I'm slowly saving for a bike (dang they are expensive) which I have a feeling is going to take some time since I'm in school, but for now I can use the spinning bikes at the gym. **I copied this from my intro in the intro forum**

FAMILY STATUS: I just celebrated 6 years with my boyfriend, Afzal who's been absolutely supportive of everything and my goals!

CURRENT TRAINING: I just started the other day. I finally got in touch with the coach of the local tri group here in Orlando and met with them yesterday morning to do the trainer ride. I used a spin bike as I only have a fixie right now and am saving for a better bike (boy are they expensive!!). Also went and saw some with a friend last night. Waiting on my Hoka's to do any more running.

2015 RACES: None planned honestly. We will see where I'm at in a few months.

RACES PLANNED FOR 16: Major one: 2016 Transplant Games of America (Cleveland, Ohio - June 10-15). Others: No clue yet - If I do enough at the Transplant Games of America I can earn a spot on Team USA for 2017 World Games in Spain!

BEER PREFERENCE: Mostly anything. I'm not really a fan of many of the big name American brands. I do enjoy craft brews and absolutely love most beers out of Europe. Love a good Pilsner. Was recently in Plzen, Czech Republic and toured the Pilsner Urquell brewery!

WEIGHT LOSS: Back in 2013-14 I lost about 25 pounds by giving up wheat and I was on dialysis. Since transplant I've put most of it back on, about 20 to be exact, and that's actually what the doctors told me would happen mainly due to being healthier and having an appetite. So I've got about 20 that I would love to lose. I basically lost all muscle during my few years dealing with my illness and now that I'm starting a regimen, hoping to gained some lean muscle back.

WHAT WILL MAKE ME A GOOD MENTOR: Not sure if I'm supposed to answer this question (lol), but honestly I would make a better mentee than mentor. At least at this stage. :/

Edited by myarr 2015-08-05 9:44 AM